Jordan Churches Hail Bill for Christian Family Rights
Parliament will consider a draft letting Christian families use church law for marriage, wills, and adoption rather than defaulting to Islamic rules.
Catholic and other Christian leaders in Jordan on October 18 praised the Cabinet’s approval of a 2026 bill amending the Christian Denominations Councils Law. The measure has been referred to Parliament and would expand legal options for Christian families in personal status matters.
If enacted, the amendments would allow Christians to handle marriage, divorce, wills, and adoption under the laws of their respective churches rather than defaulting solely to Islamic inheritance rules.
The Council of Heads of Churches issued a statement thanking King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, and the Cabinet for responding to the churches’ requests and for respecting religious traditions and citizenship rights. The council said the unified draft was developed through consensus among Christian denominations.
Wills, Estates, and Adoption
The council said the draft provides greater flexibility for parents to distribute estates equitably through wills, while preserving the option to follow existing Islamic rules if preferred. The amendments also introduce formal recognition of adoption rights for Christian families.
Church leaders said the bill reflects the state’s commitment to justice, equality, and national unity and described Jordan’s Christians as integral partners in the country’s development.
Path Through the Legislature
The measure still requires approval by the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can take effect. The heads of churches framed the Cabinet’s decision as both a response to their communities’ requests and a recognition of the place of Christian citizens within the life of the nation.
The consensus that produced the unified text brings together the principal Christian denominations present in Jordan. By opening a clearer path for ecclesiastical norms in marriage, succession, and adoption—while leaving intact the possibility of applying existing Islamic rules—the draft seeks to honor the churches’ own discipline in family life and the equal citizenship of the faithful who live it.